Sleepyhead/purflo nest etc etc

[SunSparkle]

Hi

Everyone I know who has had babies has recommended getting a baby nest to go in the crib/cot etc for them to sleep in. My mum used to roll up towels underneath the sheets when we were little which sounds the same thing but less safe!

Obviously advice is that they aren't for overnight sleeping because of SIDs. The evidence base is yet to have robust data on this though.

If you got one/used one, what did your midwife say when they saw it?

If you know they aren’t advised for overnight sleeping why do you still want one? You really don’t need one, I’ve had 2 children who slept fine without the latest fad of a sleepyhead etc. Whether the evidence base is robust or not, if they aren’t advised why risk it? A baby will sleep fine in a Moses basket without anything that could potentially suffocate them.

Look up the pur flo sleep tight baby bed may be what you are after as can be used safely overnight

@DinosaurGrrrrr I appreciate your concern. I have reviewed the data and they have been implicated in 7 deaths but when you read why it was down to unsafe cosleeping not the baby nest. The other concerns are around not being used on a firm surface eg a sofa which is easy to avoid, or overheating which can be avoided by not using blankets or too many layers. I always look at scientific data behind decisions etc and there is not a lot to call for an all out ban.

I’m after other people’s experiences with the opinions from medical professionals when they have seen them in use.

Sorry @DinosaurGrrrrr didn’t mean that to sound snappy! Ignore my short fuse I’m just tired.

I used a pa-lulli and loved it! My DS was so much more comfortable in his nest than he was in an empty next2me.
I personally hid mine when the midwifes came over but my health visitor had no issues will be using it again with DC2

We used the purflo nest in our next2me. It made the cot cosier When DC was really tiny, but she outgrew it at about 3/4 months, she is tall!.

I then took the sausage of cushion out if it’s material casing and used it during tummy time/generally as a handy shaped cushion!

I really found it useful and will be getting it out again for DC2

My midwife lost her sh*t at me on a visit due having one so I put it away in a emotional mess. Just Incase you get one... be warned 🤪

If you are confident in the 'scientific data' why do you care what a midwife (or health visitor? would say?

I have used one with my LG and my midwife and health visitor had never heard about them when I mentioned it (this was in 2018) but neither advised not to use or looked concerned.

@DinosaurGrrrrr

If you know they aren’t advised for overnight sleeping why do you still want one? You really don’t need one, I’ve had 2 children who slept fine without the latest fad of a sleepyhead etc. Whether the evidence base is robust or not, if they aren’t advised why risk it? A baby will sleep fine in a Moses basket without anything that could potentially suffocate them.

It's so easy to say that a baby will sleep fine without it. Except the reality is some babies just won't!

I tried for 7 weeks to get my baby to sleep in a crib, in a pram, in a Moses basket, anywhere! In the end I gave in and got a sleepyhead and he actually slept in it and I figured it was the lesser of two evils because before that he would only sleep on me, and I was dangerously sleep deprived.

I have got a sleepyhead and used it for both of my babies. I have had it in the next2me and found that both babies slept better with it, probably because it makes them feel snug. I'd really recommend it, I just felt that the next2me crib seemed too big without one. It's obviously not recommended by health visitors for safe sleeping but it is a personal choice.

I've commented on many of these posts. You can take the mattress out the bottom of the sleepyhead and use the cot mattress. If you look on the sleepyhead website the larger one is approved for overnight sleeping from 12 months with no changes to the actual sleepyhead sooooo it's your decision on what you do with this. We used the sleepyhead with the bottom out in her cot for overnight sleeping. When she outgrew it we replaced with a cheaper one and again used for over night sleeping.

No sleep aids are ‘approved’ for babies to sleep unattended (as in, without an awake adult supervising). None. The things they list as their confirming are to totally different specifications such as some of them say they conform to British safety standards- yeah for pillows, or for soft furnishings.

The Lullaby Trust website is good for information that is not sponsored by someone who wants to sell you their products. Whatever you decide, at the end of the day it is your choice. They have good advice that is impartial and not misleading or biased.

As an aside, not sure why people think that health professionals are somehow vested in making babies sleep worse, who does that help?

We used a Sleepyhead and DS was swaddled inside it. He slept in it until he grew out of it, and was a better than average sleeper.

DC1 did not have a sleepyhead and was a terrible sleeper for about 3 years. DC2 had a sleephead and slept through by 10 weeks. I will be getting one for DC3 for sure!

The midwife and health visitor never saw it as it was in the bedside crib in my bedroom.

Just to add, i really this could be a coincidence but based on my incredibly limited sample size, I think they work!

I wish I’d invented these things as they seem like money for old rope when you could either use towels or swaddle they baby instead. Everyone seems to use them these days and they cost a fortune. I didn’t use them with any of my kids (they weren’t around to my knowledge with the oldest two 10, 7) .

I swaddled all my babies. The advice on swaddling has changed by my most few recent baby, to not do it. I discussed with the HV and used common sense in that I made sure the baby wasn’t too hot. I never had any problems with any of the babies’ sleeping.

The nurses in the hospital rolled up blankets the same way you said your mum did when my baby was born fairly recently (I'm in the uk). We ended up getting a sleepyhead after a few weeks of attempting and trying and failing the nurses technique - I agree they are much safer. We never found any evidence of it being linked to sids at the time (I don't know if there have been any cases since though).

Purflo nests are excellent I wouldn't be without mine.

@MrsPatrickDempsey I was curious as to whether midwives or health visitors were bothered by them if they see them or if they were not bothered. I would imagine they aren’t always given time to review the latest studies etc

I have a sleepyhead. It’s been good for Us. My boy is 6 months

Can’t comment What midwife/health visitor said haven’t seen one face to face since I left the hospital when baby was a day old. Cheers covid!

My friend is a midwife, she’s now in research midwifery and she HATES them with a passion. She hates them enough to put me off ever buying one. She has, in the past, shared lots of very informative posts on the dangers of them, it’s really put me off and now makes me cringe when I see other people with them or with anything in the cot.

I was on the fence about them. You can get a hold of one quite quickly if you need one so I decided to wait. DS slept well without one so I didn't get one. They are expensive so you may want to see if it's needed first?

I genuinely can't see why they are dangerous (I personally suspect they are lumped in to keep the advice really clear). In my experience babies dont move around much or roll over until 4 months at the earliest. So how can they pose a threat to a newborn if you put them down on their back?

[quote SunSparkle]@MrsPatrickDempsey I was curious as to whether midwives or health visitors were bothered by them if they see them or if they were not bothered. I would imagine they aren’t always given time to review the latest studies etc[/quote]
Ours was in the living room during one HV visit and she didn't comment on it at all either positively or negatively.